Printing machine



1944- J. H. GRUVER 2,359,855

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Patented 10, 1944 uumzo STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING MACHINE John H. Grover, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application August 5, 1942, Serial No. 453,674

9 Claims. (Cl. 10147) This invention relates to printing machines and particularly to such machines wherein printing impressions are made from printing devices passed seriatim therethrough.

Printing machines of the aforesaid character have been utilized to produce many kinds of printed documents and in such documents at. least the major portion of what may be termed variable data are printed from the printing devices which are passed through the machine. 'These printing devices may be of many different types, and the characteristics of the printing devices must, of course, be related in every instance to the construction and operational characteristics of the printing machine in which they are employed. One type of printing device which may be employed in machines of the character to which this invention relates is shown, for ex ample, in Gollwitzer Patent No. 2,030,865, patented February 18, 1936, and this printing device may have a. positioning notch in the end thereof as shown in Gollwitzer Patent No. 2,132,- 412, patented October 11, 1938. In other instances where a diflerent construction and arrangement is provided in the printing machine a different type of printing device such as the one-piece printing device shown in Mohler Patent No. 1,790,! 17, patented February 3, 1931, may be'employed. In other instances where still a different arrangement of the printing machine is provided, printing devices of the stencil type may be employed, and in such printing devices a thin sheet of stencil paper is incorporated in a protective carrier or frame.

Documents wherein variable data are printed from printing devices of the aforesaid character may also hear other printed data or outlines such as a printed form which is usually printed upon the documents or sheets prior to the introduction thereof into the printing machine, and further reoccurring data such as the date or signature may be printed on each sheet by the printing means included in the printing machine.

Other variable data may be desirable in certain classes of documents which are produced on such printing machines, and in the case of business instruments such as checks, it may be desirable to print a check number which is to be different upon each of the checks, in addition to the identification or name and address of the payee, and the amount of the check in words and figures. Such check numbers may be printed in consecutive order on the successive checks by a conventional numbering mechanism incorporated in the printing machine. In the production of checks on a machine of the aforesaid character it may also be desirable to print the signature at the same time as the other data are printed and this may be accomplished by an auxiliary mechanism included in the machine.

Where business instruments such as checks are produced on a printing machine of the aforeferent ways. In accordance with one prior method the printing machine has been so arranged that it would produce two or more printing impressions from each printing device passed therethrough, one of these printing impressions being made upon a sheet which constitutes the ,original document or check and the other impression or impressions being made upon what may be termed proof sheets. Thus, in accordance with this prior method all of the copies were in tact originals produced in printing operations which were related to but which'either preceded or followed the printing operation in which the original check or document was produced.

In accordance with another method employed to produce such copies of checks or like documents, it has been the practice to utilize a listing apparatus in which a plurality of sheets with sheets of carbon paper interposed therebetween have been clamped in the paper holder of the lister so as to be moved simultaneously across the printing position of the machine. Thus the first sheet of such a manifolded arrangement has received the original impression so as to constitute the original document or check, and the other impression or impressions made through the carbon paper have produced the desired copy or copies. Such an arrangement is disclosed, for

example, in the copending application of Carl J. Hueber, Serial No. 447,961, filed June 22, 1942, and it will be evident that where this arrangement is employed the proof sheets produced are of the same size and possess substantially the same characteristics as the original documents, It will be recognized, of course, that the original documents or checks are in such an instance formed as separable sections of a sheet and that after the production of the several checks in a sheet thereof, these checks may be separated from each other.

While the foregoing methods are satisfactory in most circumstances, there are instances where,

because of certain limitations, resort may not be had thereto. Thus, in order to produce the proof sheets under such prior methods it-has been necessary to utilize substantially the same area in the proof sheet as is required for the original document, and to utilize sheets for the original documents and the proof sheets which embody substantially the same characteristics.

Moreover, in other instances resort has been had to the feeding of two or more webs to printing position, along the same or along right angularly related feed paths, so that original and proof impressions might be made on the respective webs, but under such circumstances the original documents produced on one of the webs required subsequent separation in order to render such original documents useful, and this entailed performing extra and sometimes relatively expensive operations.

In view of the foregoing it is an important object of this invention to enable proof sheets to be produced where separate or individually formed original documents are being printed in a printing machine of the aforesaid character and a related object is to enable simultaneous production of one or more proof sheets and separate original documents.

In accordance with the prior methods as above set forth the spacing of the variable data on the proof sheets has in most instances been the same as on the original documents, or in other words, the spacing of such data on the proof sheets has been determined by the size of the original documents, and it is a further object of this invention to enable the spacing of the successively printed items of variable data on the proof sheet to be independent of the size of the original documents.

A further object is to enable an automatic sheet separating and feeding mechanism to be utilized with a printing machine of the aforesaid character in cooperation with a sheet advancing mechanism for advancing one or more proof or like sheets in a step by step manner past printing. position, and objects related to the foregoing are to so relate the sheet advancing mechanism to the sheet separating and feeding mechanism that individual sheets may be fed to position beneath the proof sheets to thereby produce individual original documents and related proof or like sheets, and to so interrelate a sheet separating and advancing means and a proof sheet advancing means to a printing machine and to each other that separately formed original documents and related proof sheets may be produced in a simple and expeditious manner.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment and the principle thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a printing machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig, 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical control circuits employed in the printing machine;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of a check which may be produced upon the machine shown in Figs. 1 to 5;

Fig. '7 is a fragmental' elevational view of a proof sheet which may be produced upon the machine shown in Figs. 1 to 5; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 7 and illus' trating a manifold arrangement of sheets and carbon paper whereby a plurality of proof sheets may be produced in the course of the printing of the checks or other original documents.

In the form of the invention chosen for disclosure hereina printing apparatus is provided comprising a printing machine 40 having an automatic sheet feeder4l associated therewith for separating individually formed original documents such as checks 42 and feeding same one by one to the printing position of the machine, and

also having a lister 43 associated therewith in or checks 42 and of the proof sheets 44 are accomplished in timed relation to the operation of the printing machine. Through this arrangement a single printing operation is performed upon each check 42, and in the course of a plurality of such check printing operations, successive proof impressions are made in spaced relation upon the proof sheet 44.

In so far as the present invention is concerned, the form and arrangement of the printing machine 40 are in most instances immaterial, but for purposes of disclosure, the printing machine 40 is illustrated as being of the type wherein a series of individual printing devices D, each bearing printing means thereon, are advanced one by one from a supply magazine M to a printing position which is provided in the machine. The magazine M is located upon and supported by the printing machine frame 41 which, in the form shown, is generally desk-like in character so as to provide a table top T upon which the sheets may be supported over printing position and beneath impression means such as a platen P for the performance of printing operations with respect to such forms. In theoperation of the printing machine 40 the printing devices D are withdrawn one by one from the bottom of the magazine M and are advanced in a step by step manner along a suitable printing device path beneath the table top T until each printing device comes to rest at printing position. While the printing device is at rest at printing position, the platen mechanism P may be operated to produce a printing impression from all or selected portions of the printing characters embodied in the printing device D. After one or more printing impressions have been made from the printing device, it is further advanced so as to be discharged into a collecting means such as a, drawer K. The printing machine which is herein dis- 7 2,869,855 closed is fully illustrated and described in the copending application of Carl J. Hueber, Serial No. 388,998, filed April 17, 1941, and hence the printing machine will be described herein only inso far as the particular mechanisms thereof are directly related to the present invention.

In the printing machine 40 as herein shown the platen mechanism P is supported beneath the forward end of a substantially rigid arm 45 which projects upwardly from the table top T adjacent to the magazine M and then extends forwardly at an angle and in upwardly spaced relation with respect to the table top T so that the forward end of the arm 45 is disposed over printing position. The platen mechanism P comprises a platen roller PR mounted beneath a carriage C which is, in turn, supported on the arm 45 in such a manner that the carriage may be reciprocated along a path parallel to the table top T and extending in a direction from front to rear of the printing machine. The platen roller PR is supported on the carriage C for shifting movement from an upper inactive position to a lower active position, and in its lower position the platen roller PR may be rolled across a sheet to press the same into printing cooperation with printing means such as a printing device D disposed in the printing opening of the table top T.

In the first half of a printing cycle of the platen mechanism P the carriage C is moved forwardly from its at rest position of Fig. 2, and in the course of this forward stroke the platen roller PR is lowered to its active position. During the return or rearward stroke of the carriage which takes place in the last half of the cycle of operation of the machine the platen roller PR is maintained in its lower or-active position so that a resilient platen face PF of the platen roller engages the sheet to effect printing cooperation of the sheet with the printing means of the printing device D. At this same time another platen face PF-2 on the platen roller PR is operable to produce printing cooperation with supplemental printing means which are disposed beneath the printing opening and is controlled or rendered operative by a governing plunger 48 mounted in the forward panel of the printing machine frame 41.

Thus, the printing means of the printing device D may print variable data V on the original document or check 42, Fig. 6, such variable data including the amount of the check in words and figures, the name of the payee, and the address of the payee. Corresponding variable data V' are simultaneously printed on the proof sheet 44, Fig. '7, or on each of such proof sheets, this being accomplished by the carbon paper 45. The original documents or checks 42 are herein shown in the form of cards each having a chamfered corner 42a, so that suitable coded perforations or the like may be included in the checks for accounting, sorting or like purposes in accordance with conventional practice. The supplemental printing means may print other data such as the date 49, the check number N, and the signature 8 on the original document or check 42, Fig. 6, and corresponding impressions 49', N, and S are simultaneously formed on the proof sheet or sheets, Fig. 7.

The lister 43 may also be of many different types, but as herein shown the lister 43 is unitary in construction and is of the general character disclosed in the copending application of Carl J. Hueber, Serial No. 447,961, filed June 22, 1942, and reference may be had to the aforesaid Hueber application for further explanation of the details of construction and operation thereof.

The sheet feeder 4| mam-under the present invention, be of many different types, but as herein illustrated this sheet feeder is unitary in construction and is of the general character disclosed in the copending application of Lawrence H. Morse, Serial No. 403,282, filed July 21, 1941, and reference may be had to the aforesaid Morse application for further details of construction and operation of the sheet feeder.

In accomplishing the objects of the present invention the separately formed original documents such as checks 42 are disposed in a fanned relationship in a supply magazine 50 disposed at one end of the sheet feeder 4|, and the separating mechanism SI of the sheet feeder 4| is operated in timed relation to the operation of the printing machine 40 by means including a driving connection 4|. The driving connection 4| is,operated each time the platen mechanism ,P operates through a printing cycle, and the separating mechanism 5! is thus operable to feed the sheets 42 one at a time into a sheet guideway G which forms a part of the sheet feeder 4| and extends along the top of the printing machine and across printing position. The sheet guideway G is afforded by parallel guides supported on the open top frame of the sheet feeder, the sheet guideway in the present instance comprising a front channel guide 52 and a rear angle guide 53. The sheet feeder 4| embodies a constantly driven feeding means which in the present instance includes a constantly driven endless belt 54 which is disposed over the lower flange of the angle guide 53, and as a sheet or check 42 is withdrawn from the supply magazine 50 it is fed into the guideway G so as to rest at one edge upon the moving belt 54, and a hold-down device or skid 55 engages the upper face of the sheet to maintain the same in firm frictional contact with the moving belt 54. Thus the sheet 42 is advanced along the guideway G by the belt 54 until it reaches printing position, at which point the forward edge of the sheet 42 engages a shiftable sheet-stop means and the sheet is thereby brought to rest beneath the platen P so that a printing impression may be made thereon.

While in some instances the automatic sheet stop means of the sheet feeder might be of the character described in the aforesaid Morse application, I prefer to employ a difierent form of sheet stop means which is so arranged that it will operate properly even though a relatively wide proof sheet 44 is being employed. As disclosed in the aforesaid Morse application, a shaft 60 is mounted in a bracket 6| carried by the front rail 62 of the sheet feeder 4|, the shaft 60 being extended rearwardly toward the sheet guide G. The shaft 60 is arranged to be actuated with a rocking motion each time a sheet 42 is to be released from printing position, and this is attained through a ratchet and pawl mechanism 63 which actuates a cam mechanism 64 mounted on the front rail 62. The ratchet mechanism 63 includes a pawl 65 mounted on and movable with a slide bar 66 which is shiftable along the forward edge of the front rail 62 of the sheet feeder, and the slide bar 66 is actuated through a reciprocating movement each time the sheet separating means 5| of the sheet feeder is operated. The sheet stop means in the present instance includes a stop plunger 68 mounted for vertical reciprocation in a guide member 69, Figs. 3 and 4, carried on the lower face of the table top T and the arrangement is such that the stop plunger 68 may be elevated into the sheet guide G in the path of the leading edge of a sheet 42, and the stop plunger is so located that the sheet 42 will be stopped in the desired relation to printing position. The plunger 68 has a transverse pin mounted at its lower end so as to ride in longitudinal slot H formed in one end of. a lever 12, and the lever 12 extends forwardly of the machine and is pivoted at I3 adjacent its midpoint on a bracket 14 carried on the lower face of the table top T. The

' other end of the lever 12 has a pin and slot connection 15 with the lower end of a vertically shiftable plunger or link 16, the plunger 16 being slidably guided in a hub 11 secured on the lower face of the table top T. As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the lever 12 extends forwardly at -an angle so that the plunger I6 is disposed considerably to the right of the loca tion of the stop plunger 68, this arrangement enabling relatively large or wide proof sheets 44 to be used. The upper end of the plunger 16 has an opening therein through which an arm 18 is slidably extended, the arm 18 being secured by a clamp 18 on the rock shaft 68. Thus when the shaft 60 is rocked in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the plunger 16 is elevated and the sheet stop plunger 68 is withdrawn downwardly to thereby release a sheet or check 42 for further movement by the belt 54, and in such movement the completed check 42 is discharged from the guideway G into a collecting hopper 80. It will be understood that the shaft 68 is spring biased in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 in the same manner as in the aforesaid Morse application, and aft r r a sheet 42 has been released by withdrawal f the stop plunger 68, the cam mechanism 64 is 45 of carbon paper which is arranged against the first or lower one of the sheets 44 is disposed directly over the sheet or check 42 so that when the platen roller PR is moved downwardly into engagement with the upper one of the sheets 44, the entire group of such sheets will be pressed downwardly against the sheet or check 42, which will in turn be pressed downwardly against the inked ribbon which is interposed at printing position between the sheet 42 and the printing characters of the auxiliary printing means and the printing device D which is then at printing position. Thus as the platen roller PR is rolled in a rearward direction across the printing position, an original impression is made from a various printing means onto the sheet 42 andsimilar impressions are simultaneously made through the carbon paper 45 upon all of the" proof sheets 44.

operative to permit the spring biasing mechanism to return the shaft in a counterclockwise direction to thereby return the stop plunger 68 to its elevated position in time to stop and properly position next sheet or check 42.

The lister 43 which is herein shown embodies a guide member 82 along which the paper holder 46 is guided for advancing movement in a rearward direction and such advancing movement is imparted to the paper holder by actuating mechi anism which is housed within a casing 83, such.

actuating movement being transmitted to the paper holder 46 through a flexible connecting rack 84. The actuating means of the lister 43 are operated in timed relation to the printing mechanism by means including the connecting link which at its rear end is connected to an operating lever 86 of the lister actuating mechanism and at its forward end is connected to an actuating arm 81 of the platen mechanism P. Thus through the operation of the platen actuating mechanism, the lister mechanism 43 is operated to impart step by step advancing move ment to the paper holder 46 in a rearward direction from an initial or loading position which is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This loading position is such that when the upper edge 88 of a proof sheet, or a manifold arrangement of such proof sheets, is clamped in paper clamps 46' of the paper holder 46, the proof sheet or the manifold arrangement thereof will extend forwardly over the guides 53 and 52 of the sheet guideway G, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The manifold arrangement of proof sheets 44 is so mounted in the paper clamps 46' that the sheet The sheet feeder 4| is so arranged that the slide bar 66 is withdrawn through its left hand or inactive stroke during the first half of the cycle of operation of the printing machine so that the stop plunger 68 remains in its elevated or active position until some time after the second half of the cycle of operation of the printing machine has started. During this second half of the cycle of operation of the printing machine the platen roller PR has its resilient platen faces operatively engaged with the sheets 44 and 42 so that the sheets are held in position by the platen roller at this time. The arrangement of the cam mechanism 64 is such that when the printing stroke of the platen roller is substantially completed, the rock shaft 60 is actuated and the stop plunger 68 is withdrawn downwardly. When the platen roller PR is withdrawn to its upper or inactive position at the end of the printing operation, and the stop plunger 88 is withdrawn downwardly, the sheet 42 is released and is discharged to the hopper 88 as hereinbefore described, and at about this time the next sheet which has been separated by the separating mechanism 5| is started along the sheet guideway G towards printing position. It will be observed that the I upward withdrawal of the platen roller PR has I to stop this sheet 42 at printing position. Thus at the end of a machine cycle the sheet 42 which is to be printed in the next cycle is located at printing position, but it should be observed that the lister mechanism 43 as herein shown is such that the paper holder 46 remains stationary after the completion of a printing operation and the required line spacing movement of the paper holder takes place in the next cycle of operation of the printing machine. The arrangement of the lister 43 is such that such line spacing movement is completed during the'first half cycle of operation of the printing machine and hence the proof sheet 44 is properly positioned to receive the printing impression which is to be made in such cycle of operation of the machine.

The lister 43 is so arranged that the paper holder 46 and the guideway 82 are disposed relatively close to the upper surface of the table top T, and the sheet feeder 4| is therefore arranged to afford clearance for these elements of the lister 43. The sheet feedcr M as disclosed in the aforesaid Morse application has its open top formed by the front rail 62 and a similar back rail 52' which are supported in a relatively rigid relation upon a pair of leg structures 90 which extend downwardly past the end edges of the table top of the printing machine. Thus the rear rail 62' normally extends across the table top rearwardly of the printing position, and to afford clearance for the guide member 02 and the paper holder 46 of the lister, the rear rail 62' has a substantial portion thereof cut away as indicated at 9| in Fig. 2 of the drawings. While this cutting out of a portion of the rear rail 62' somewhat weakens the structure of the sheet feeder 4 I, it has been found that the front rail 62 affords suflicient rigidity in the sheet feeder frame for accomplishment of the purposes of this invention for where the present invention is to be employed the sheet feeder will in most instances be left in place on the printing machine at all times.

The lister 43 as disclosed in the aforesaid Hueber application provides means for automatically returning the paper holder 43 to its forward or loading position after the completion of a predetermined number of printing impressions upon a sheet, and for this purpose a spring mechanism 94 is provided which is controlled jointly by a control member 95 on the flexible rack 84 and a lever mechanism 96 which is actuated by means carried on the actuating link 85. With this lister the paper holder 46 is automatically actuated to its forward or loading position after the printing impression has been completed in the last line or section of the sheet, such as the sheet 44, and this particular embodiment also provides means, as disclosed in the aforesaid Hueber application, to automatically unclamp the paper clamps 46' when the paper holder 46 is returned to loading position. This unclamping means includes an abutment structure 91 mounted on the table top T in a position to operatively engage the clamp operating means as the paper holder moves into its loading position, and after the completed sheets 44 have been removed from the clamps 46' and replaced by new sheets 44, the paper clamps are returned to their active relation by rearward actuation of an operating plunger 98 carried on an operating handle 99 of the paper holder. It will be apparent, of course, that in so far as the present invention is concerned, the employment of the particular lister 43 with its automatic return mechanism and itsautomatic unclamping mechanism is not essential, for many other types of lister might be utilized.

The cycles of operation of the printing machine and the associated lister and sheet feed mechanism may, of course, be initiated manually through the use of the foot pedals I00, WI and I02. The printing machine 4| embodies a drive motor I05, Fig. 5, governed by a switch I06, and this motor I05 operates continuously during use of the printing machine. The switch I06 is disposed so as to be controlled by an operating plunger I01 mounted in the front panel of the printing machine frame 41, and when the motor I05 is operating, the foot pedals I00, I 0| and I02 may be selectively depressed to initiate different types of machine cycles. The foot pedal I00 is usually termed the "skip pedal since it initiates an operation of the printing device feeding means to feed printing devices past printing position while the platen mechanism P remains inactive. The foot pedal IOI is normally termed the repeat pedal since it initiates operation of the platen mechanism while the printing device advancing means remains inactive. The foot pedal I02 is normally termed the consecutive pedal since momentary depression of this foot pedal causes concurrent operation of the platen mechanism and the printing device advancing mechanism, and through the use of the pedal I02 the machine is operable to produce but a single printing impression from each printing device.

In the use of the apparatus of this invention it is preferable to utilize what is termed the "auto-stop mechanism of the printing machine to control operation of the apparatus. The autostop mechanism is governed by a plunger I I 0 disposed in the forward panel of the machine, and when the plunger H0 is withdrawn in an outward direction, the machine operates continuously in the same manner as it would if the consecutive pedal I02 were continuously depressed. With this arrangement, however, it is desirable to terminate such automatic operation of the machine when any one of a number of possible undesirable conditions are detected in the machine, and a solenoid III is therefore provided which is so related to the plunger 0 that when the solenoid is energized it is operable to withdraw the auto-stop plunger II 0 to its innermost position, thereby to terminate the automatic operation of the machine. The details of construction and operation of the auto-stop mechanism are disclosed in the aforesaid Hueber application, Serial N0. 388,998. However, it will be observed that a detecting member I I2 is associated with the magazine M to detect the withdrawal of the last printing device therefrom, and when this happens a detecting switch H3 is closed. The detecting switch H3 is connected by a wire I to one side of the circuit of the motor I05, and the other terminal of the switch H3 is connected to one terminal of the solenoid III by a wire H5. The other side of the solenoid III is connected by a wire H6 and a conditioning switch II! to the other side of the motor circuit so that when the switch H3 is closed the solenoid III is energized and the auto-stop plunger H0 is withdrawn to its inner position to thereby stop the machine.

The sheet feeder M has an operating motor I 20 which is arranged to drive the sheet feeding mechanism including the belt 54 and a constantly driven feed roller I2I, and this motor is connected by wires I23 to a plug connector I24, this plug connector being adapted to be inserted in a plug outlet I25 in one end wall of the printing machine frame 41. The plug outlet I25 is connected by wires I26 to the line wires L ahead of the switch I06, and the operation of the motor I20 is governed by a switch. I-2I mounted on the sheet feeder and interposed in one of the wires I23.

The sheet feeder M is also provided with detecting means such as a detecting member I30 for detecting the feeding of more than one sheet, and a detecting member I3I'for detecting failure to feed a sheet, and these detecting members I30 and I3I are arranged to close a switch I32 when either one of these members detects a faulty operation of the sheet feeder. The switch I32 is conncted by wires I33 to a plug connector I34 which may be inserted into a plug socket I35 disposed on the end wall of the printing machine frame. The plug outlet I35 is connected by wires I 38 in parallel acrossthe wires 4 and 5 so that closure of the switch I32 causes the solenoid III to be energized to stop the continuous operation of the printing machine.

The lister 43 embodies slide Ill which is actuated by the control element '5 when the last line or section of the proof sheet 44 has been moved into printing position. The control member I40 normally holds a switch I42 in its open position, and when the control member I40 is actuated as aforesaid, the switch I4! is allowed to close. The switch I42 is connected by wires I43 to a plug connector I44 which may be inserted in a plug outlet I45 in the end wall of the printing machine frame. The plug outlet I45 is connected by wires I46 in parallel across the two wires I I4 and IIS so that when the switch I42 is thus closed the solenoid III is energized and the continuous operation of the machine is terminated.

inal documents such as checks and one or more proof sheets to be prepared in a novel and advantageous manner, and this is accomplished in such a way that the space upon the proof sheets may be efilciently utilized. It will be clear that the present invention enables the space required upon the proof sheet for printing data related to each original document or check to be substantially independent of the size of the original document, and this space required upon the proof sheet is dependent only upon the amount or spacing of the printing matter which is to be produced with relation to each original document.

It will also be evident that the present invention enables proof sheets and original documents to be produced having substantially different characteristics, and in accordance with this inventionthe separately formed original documents and the proof sheets are fed to printing position along the different paths and through this arrangement the present invention enables great flexibility to be attained in so far as the location of the printed matter upon the original document and the proof sheet is concerned.

The present invention also provides a novel sheet stop mechanism which enables the original document to be stopped in a printing position which is entirely .covered or concealed by the proof sheet, and this further facilitates the location of the printed matter on the check in the most eiiicient or desirable position, It will also be evident that the sheet guiding means of the sheet feeding mechanism cooperates with the lister in so supporting the proof sheet that the separately formed original documents may be readily advanced into position beneath the proofsheets.

Hence, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a printing machine means for advancing printing devices seriatim to printing position in said machine, sheet feeding means inclu g a control member or feeding means including means forming a sheet assaess means forming a sheet guideway extending across printing position, said sheet feeding means being operable to separate and feed individual sheets through said guideway to/and from printing position, means disposed at one side of said guideway for advancing at least one record sheet across printing position in a step by step manner with the record sheet extending across and supported by said sheet guideway in a relation such that the record sheet is positioned normally out of the path of the individual sheets moving through said guideway, an impression sheet disposed above said guideway and beneath said record sheet, and printing means operable to press said record sheet into said guideway to thereby effect printing cooperation between the record and impression sheets and an individual sheet and the printing device at printing position, and means for operating said sheet feeding means, the record advancing means and the printing device advancing means in such timed relation as to insure that an impression is made on each individual sheet and the record sheet simultaneously from each printing device and that the impressions on the record sheet are made in spaced relation one with the other on such sheet.

2. In a printing machine means for advancing printing devices seriatim to printing position in said machine, impression means for forming printing impressions from the printing devices as they are located at said printing position, sheet separating and feeding means including a sheet guideway extended across printing position and operable to feed individual sheets along said guideway to and from printing position, means disposed at one side of said guideway for advancing at least one other sheet and an associated carbon paper sheet past said printing position along a different path transversely related to said guideway and in a step by step manner such that a series of impressions may be made thereon from said printing devices as original impressions are made upon successive original sheets, and means for operating said sheet feeding means, the advancing means for said one other sheet and the printing device advancing means in such timed relation as to insure that an impression is made on each individual sheet and said one other sheet simultaneously from each printing device.

3. In a printing apparatus of the character described, a printing machine through which printing devices'are adapted to be passed one by one to printing position, a sheet feeding means for feeding separately formed original sheets to said printing position and then out of printing position, a sheet advancing means adapted to advance at least one other sheet in a step by step manner across printing position, means operable to produce printing impressions upon such sheets at printing position, and means operable by said sheet advancing means when a predetermined number of impressions have been made upon a sheet to stop operation of said sheet feeding means and said printing machine.

4. In a printing apparatus, a printing machine having a table top beneath which printing devices are adapted to be passed one by one to printing position formed in said table top, sheet guideway extending across printing position and operable to feed separately formed original sheets to printing position, means for advancing disposed in said sheet guideway and adapted for movement downwardly out of the path of sheets in said guideway, and operating means for said sheet stop means including an actuating connection extending beneath said table top.

5. In a printing apparatus, a printing machine having a table top beneath which printing devices are adapted to be passed to a printing position formed in said table top, sheet separating and feeding means including means forming a sheet guideway extending across printing position and operable to feed original sheets to printing position, proof sheet advancing means for advancing at least one proof sheet and an associated carbon paper sheet across printing position in a step by step manner with the proof and carbon paper sheets extending across said sheet guideway in a position normally out of the path of an original sheet moving through said guideway, said proof sheet advancing means including paper clamping means shiftable to a loading position adjacent to one side of said sheet guideway and movable through advancing movements away from said guideway, and operating means for said clamping means arranged to extend over and across said sheet guideway when said clamping means is in said loading position, impression means operable to press said proof sheet into said guideway to thereby effect printing cooperation between said original sheet and the printing device at printing position, and sheet stop means disposed in said sheet guideway and adapted for movement downwardly out of the path of sheets in said guideway, and operating means for said sheet stop means including an actuating connection extending beneath said table top.

6. In a printing apparatus a printing machine through which printing devices are adapted to be passed one by one to a printing position, sheet feeding means including a sheet guideway extending across printing position, means for advancing at least one proof sheet and an associated carbon paper sheet across printing position in a step by step manner, and means for stopping and positioning a sheet in said sheet guideway and including a stop member mounted for movement upwardly into said sheet guideway to stop a sheet and adapted for withdrawal downwardly out of said guideway to permit further advancing movement of such a sheet.

7. In a printing machine through which printing devices are adapted to be passed one by one to printing position, means including a sheet guideway extending across printing position and along which individual sheets may be fed to printing position and then out of printing position, means for advancing at least one other sheet in a step by step manner past printing position and across said sheet guideway, and sheet stop means disposed at least in part in said sheet guideway and beneath said one other sheet extending across said guideway to stop an individual sheet in said guideway with its leading edge disposed beneath said one other sheet.

8. In a printing machine means for advancing printing devices one by one to printing position in said machine, impression means located in upwardly spaced relation with respect to said printing position and operable to form printing impressions from printing devices as such devices are located at printing position, sheet separating and feeding means including a sheet guideway extended across printing position and operable to feed individual sheets along said guideway to and from printing position, means disposed at one side of said guideway for supporting at least one other sheet and an associated carbon paper sheet over said guideway and in upwardly spaced relation thereto to enable the individual sheets to be fed beneath said other and carbon paper sheets, means for advancing said other sheet and said carbon paper sheet past printing position in a step by step manner such that a series of impressions may be made upon said other sheet as original impressions are made upon successive individual sheets, and means for operating said sheet feeding means, the advancing means for said one other sheet and the printing device advancing means in such timed relation as to insure that an impression is made on each individual sheet and said one other sheet simultaneously from each printing device.

9. In a printing machine having a table top beneath which printing devices are adapted to be passed one by one to printing position formed in said table top, means for advancing printing devices to printing position, sheet feeding means including a sheet guideway extending across said table top and the printing position in said table top, said sheet feeding means being operable to feed individual sheets one by one along said sheet guideway into and then out of printing position, means operable to feed associated proof and carbon paper sheets across said printing position in a step by step manner with said associated sheets extended across said printing position and supported by said sheet guideway in spaced relation to said table top at said printing position to thereby normally aiford clearance space in said uideway beneath said associated sheets to enable feeding of an individual sheet into printing position beneath such associated sheets, impression means disposed above and in spaced relation to said printing position and movable downwardly to press said associated sheets downwardly into said guideway and thereby effect printing cooperation between said individual sheet and a print- .ing device and at the same time produce an im- 

